Procedure for the control of a pollutant control equipment

ABSTRACT

It is suggested to use a procedure for the control of the regeneration of a pollutant control equipment arranged in the planned internal combustion engine used for powering a motor vehicle. It will be regenerated in periodical intervals by at least one stored component and a device for the execution of the process. A calculation of a route takes place due to an entry by the operator. A required regeneration of the pollutant control equipment impacts the calculation of a route. Besides protection from the pollutant control equipment the invention based procedure enables a protection against contaminant loads of the air on specific routes and beyond that an energy efficient regeneration of the pollutant control equipment.

The invention originates from a procedure for the control of the regeneration of pollutant control equipment and from a device for the execution of the procedure according to the type of the independent requirements.

In DE 199 06 287 A1 a procedure for the operation of a particle filter of an internal combustion which is regenerated in regular intervals is described. The regeneration takes place in connection with a function for the loading condition of the particle filter. One of the particle's conditioning systems oxidize the particles starting at a temperature of about 550° C. When the ignition temperature is reached an exothermal reaction will be ignited that will cause a combustion of the particles. Hereby, the particle filter regenerates within a few minutes. A high oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas increases the combustion speed. A reduced exhaust volume flow leads to a temperature increase and also increases the combustion speed, but can also lead to local temperature increases. Therefore, a high material load can occur when the exhaust volume flow is reduced by an occurring regeneration of the exhaust volume flow, for example, when a traffic jam is reached or when a destination has been reached, and the internal combustion engine is shut off. High material load can also occur when in addition a high oxygen portion ocurs in the exhaust like e.g. in the idling cycle of the internal combustion engine by an overrun fuel cut off. High temperatures can lead to damage of the particle filter.

DE 197 39 848 A1 describes different operation procedures of an internal combustion engine in whose exhaust area a NOx-memory catalyst is arranged. Due to the final memory capacity of the NOx-memory catalyst, an in between regeneration of the NOx memory catalyst must be planned, which occurrs through a supply of hydrocarbons and/or carbon monoxide, which for instance can be produced internally in the motor. An undesired sulfur reposition in the NOx memory catalyst can be removed by an operation of the memory catalyst by high temperatures with a fatty exhaust gas. For instance, a respective procedure is described in DE 198 43 859 A1.

An increase of the exhaust gas temperature for the introduction of the pollutant control equipment's regeneration can be maintained through an oxidation of combustible exhaust components. A catalytic active surface can, e.g., be contained in the particle filter. In a catalyst, e,g. a (NOx)-memory catalyst a catalystic active surface principle is already present.

From EP 1 222 377 B1 a procedure has become known by which a navigation device that contains a driving computer impacts the regeneration of a memory catalyst as an example for a pollutant control equipment. A control device that impacts the regeneration is connected to a navigation device, which at least knows the data about the current location of the motor vehicle and the route of the motor vehicle. With the control device, the regeneration of the memory catalyst dependant on the location and the route will be impacted whereby the cleaning of the memory catalyst will be prematurely executed when the route expects that a later cleaning is not possible. It is also possible, that a regeneration on the route has to occur in a route area that is unsuited for a regeneration and can cause an increased material load of the memory catalyst or an imperfect regeneration.

The invention's task is to provide a procedure that creates the most favorable conditions for regeneration.

In each case the task is solved through the indicated characteristics listed in the independent conditions.

The invention based approach for the control of the regeneration of a specified internal combustion engine for powering a vehicle in the exhaust tract that provides in periodical intervals that at least one stored exhaust component will be regenerated arranges that the route of the power vehicle will be impacted.

The invention based procedure intervenes in the calculation of a specified route by an operator. At the least, the destination will be specified. The driving computer of the operator operated navigation device can impact the route in terms of a required regeneration of the pollutant control equipment. Thereby, a better regeneration is possible. For instance, through the impact of the route a route section with low exhaust gas volume flow and/or high oxygen content can be rerouted as, e.g., by the in city operation or by the coasting mode. As already mentioned at the start, a low exhaust volume flow and a high oxygen content can lead to temperature increases at least by local temperature and damage the pollutant control equipment. In addition, through impacting of the route a possibly present traffic jam can be avoided whereby also a low exhaust volume flow and a high exhaust oxygen content can be expected.

The additional cost for the realization of the invention based procedure is comparably low because many power vehicles already have a navigation system that contains a driving computer with a routing.

Advantageous advanced training and designs of the invention based procedure result from dependent conditions.

Design provides that the route will be impacted by lodged or calculated evaluation criteria for its suitability for a regeneration. With this method at least one preferably several routes in terms of the regeneration will be evaluated whereby the most suited route can be found.

The invention based procedure reaches for a specification of the desired route of which at least the destination is specified and by a required regeneration of the polluttant control equipment. Hereby, if necessary the operator of the navigation device can be included. An interaction with the operator does not take place. However, another design provides that the calculated route will be suggested. With this method an entry by an operator that agrees with the suggestion or declines it is required. As an evaluation criteria for the route the anticipated driving time and/or the distance topology and/or the anticipated fuel use can be considered. The evaluation criteria set up on a present navigation device, which after the entry of the desired route, are already available and/or can be reloaded from a data carrier or a radio communication. An interaction with the operator does not take place. In contrast, another design provides that the calculated route will be proposed. With this method an entry from an operator is necessary that agrees to the proposal or declines it.

As evaluation criteria by the analysis of the route especially the estimated driving length and/or the known distance topology and/or the estimated gas use can be included. The evaluation criteria start with available information in the navigation device, which after entering the desired route, is already available in the navigation device or can be reloaded by a data carrier through radio communication.

When an evaluation criteria, according to which a route is evaluated as suited for a regeneration the avoidance of operating conditions, can be based on low exhaust volume flow, the safety of the pollutant control during the regeneration can be placed in the foreground.

In this case distances with a long coasting mode like valley departures are avoided and distances with a sufficient portion of a highway or freeway are preferred. Another design provides that evaluation criteria by which a route is presumed to be suited will be based on a a sufficient remaining driving length. In addition or alternatively it can be decided on the basis of planned or calculated decision criteria if an already started regeneration will be retained or cancelled. With these methods an energy efficient execution of the regeneration of the pollutant control equipment can be placed in the foreground. In this case, a drive on a highway or freeway is preferred by which an increased load can be expected for a longer time period. Thereby an increased exhaust temperature occurrs so that if necessary heating methods to heat the pollution control equipment can require an energy input.

Another design provides that the evaluation criteria according to which a route is evaluated as suited for a regeneration and/or the time period or the location of the start of the regeneration on this route is designated is based upon the appearance of an increased pollution impact in the exhaust during the regeneration. Thereby, an optimized regeneration of the pollutant control equipment in terms of the exhaust emissions can be placed in the foreground. Thereby, for instance tunnels, residential areas, or certain protected areas like e.g. health resort zones can be avoided.

If during a drive, current impacts like, e.g., a traffic jam report or a request for the cancellation of a drive require the cancellation of the regeneration then this can be achieved while the driving computer cancels the started regeneration.

The invention based device for the control of the regeneration of a provided internal combustion engine arranged in the exhaust tract of an internal combustion engine attached pollutant control equipment provided for activating a power vehicle which in periodical intervals is regenerated by at least one stored exhaust component by which a calculation of the vehicles route is planned based upon a specification and provides a special created internal combustion engine control for an execution of the procedure and a specifically created driving computer.

Additional advantegeous advanced training and designs of the invention based procedure arise from additional dependent demands and from the following description.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of an internal combustion engine with a pollutant control equipment.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an internal combustion engine 30 with a pollutant control equipment 35 and an internal combustion control 10, which controls the operation parameter of the internal combustion engine 30.

The internal combustion engine 30 is supplied with combustion air through an air supply duct 31.

If necessary, the fuel metering may be carried out individually for each cylinder by means of injection nozzles 32, one of them being depicted symbolically. Thereby, the amount of fuel will be set by the motor control 10.

The exhaust from the internal combustion engine 30 will be supplied by a pollutant control equipment 35 over an exhaust tract 33 unto which a recycling of the exhaust gases can also be attached and which, e.g., contains a (NOx-) memory catalyst and/or a particle filter. The particle filter can contain an integrated catalyst, which on the one hand can provide the cleaning of the exhaust gas and on the other hand can support an exo-thermal reaction of combustible exhaust gas components for the heating of the particle filter.

The oxygen content of the exhaust gas can be measured with an exhaust probe 34 and can be conveyed to the internal combustion engine control 10.

In connection with a concrete design of the pollutant control equipment 35, a regeneration of the pollutant control equipment 35 may be required. For example, this may be the case by a design as a memory catalyst and/or particle filter. The regeneration can be managed through additional injecting of fuel with injection pumps 32 or with other methods on the one hand to increase the exhaust gas temperature and on the other for the supply of a possibly necessary reagent agent.

To define the requirements for a regeneration and for the control of the operation parameter of the internal combustion engine 30 during the regeneration in the internal combustion engine 10, a regeneration control 11 is planned. According to the status of the technology this gives, e.g., based upon the evaluation of the pressure decrease a signal to the internal combustion engine control 10 to signal that a regeneration of the pollutant control equipment 35 is required, especially when the pollutant control equipment 35 contains a particle filter.

After the start of the regeneration certain operation conditions, which could damage the pollutant control equipment 35 should be avoided. For instance, by highly loaded particle filters during the transition into the coasting mode in admissibly high temperatures can occur in the pollutant control equipment 35 due to a high oxygen content.

At first, the regeneration control 11 reports the requirement of a regeneration to a driving computer 20 as it is e.g. used by routing in navigation systems.

Invention based an impact of the calculated route due to the required regeneration of the pollutant control equipment 35 is planned.

The driving computer 20 contains an evaluation level 21, which the planned route can evaluate if it seems to be suited for a regeneration. If this is the case, this route is selected. If it is not the case, a new route can be calculated. The driving computer 20 can set the route without the intervention of an operator. A design plans that the route of an operator's route will be suggested with a driving computers 20 connected input and output unit 22. The operator can accept the route, abandon, or decline it. If the operator offers a changed route it can be evaluated by the evaluation level 21 and if necessary be accepted. If this route is not suited the driving computer can calculate an additional route, evaluate it in the evaluation level 21 and suggest it. If the evaluation level has detected that the planned route is suited, a signal for the start of a regeneration of the pollutant control equipment 35 can be given through the driving computer 20.

The driving computer 20 can calculate the route with stored or calculated evaluation criteria for its suitability for a regeneration process. For example, the evaluation criteria is planning using the expected drive duration and/or the distance topology and/or the known traffic obstructions and/or the anticipated fuel.

Alternatively, or additionally, as evaluation criteria, according to which a route is evaluated as suited for a regeneration process, be the avoidance of operating conditions with little exhaust volume flow and/or a high oxygen can be planned. After a route is evaluated, as suited for a regeneration process, there can be planned alternatively, or additionally, a sufficient remaining driving time for the execution of a regeneration.

If the driving computer 20 determines through a user input with the input and output unit 22 from a changed route or through information from traffic reports, that the continuing route does not appear suited for the conclusion of the regeneration cycle, then the driving computer 20 can release a signal for the cancellation of the internal combustion engine 10.

Therefore, the invention based procedure enables, through an impact of the calculated route in the driving computer 20 in connection with a required regeneration of the pollutant control equipment 35, protection of the pollutant control equipment 35, a protection against a pollution impact of the air on specific routes, and an energy efficient regeneration of the pollutant control equipment 35. 

1. A method of controlling a regeneration in an exhaust gas system of an internal combustion engine with attached pollutant control equipment for the powering of a motor vehicle, the method comprising regenerating in periodic intervals by at least one stored exhaust component and calculating a route based upon a specification and based on a required regeneration of the pollutant control equipment.
 2. A method according to claim 1, wherein calculating includes calculating by a stored or calculated evaluation criteria for its suitability for the regeneration.
 3. A method according to claim 1, wherein calculating includes calculating a route based on a suggested route.
 4. A method according to claim 1, wherein calculating a route includes considering an anticipated drive time, distance topology, known traffic obstructions, or anticipated fuel use.
 5. A method according to claim 1, wherein calculating includes calculating a route to avoid operating conditions with a marginal exhaust gas volume flow or a high oxygen content of an exhaust gas.
 6. A method according to claim 1, wherein calculating a route includes causing a sufficient remaining drive time for an execution of a regeneration.
 7. A method according to claim 1, wherein calculating includes considering an appearance of an increased contaminant load in an exhaust gas during regeneration.
 8. A method according to claim 1, further comprising determining if a started regeneration will be retained or cancelled based on evaluation criteria.
 9. A device that controls a regeneration of pollutant control equipment arranged in an internal combustion engine for powering a motor vehicle, the device causing regeneration by at least one stored component by which a calculation of a route is planned due to a specification that has a planned specifically arranged internal combustion engine and a specifically arranged driving computer. 